Since arriving back from my trip to the USA, I have been very busy trying to adjust to a new schedule. Currently, in addition to my two regularly schedule off-base English teaching jobs, I am now a substitute teacher at Yokota High School on base. I really didn’t know what to expect when I started this, but so far I have been pleasantly surprised. The school is small, only 400 total students, so I’m sure by the Christmas season I will have many names, and even more faces, memorized as I make my rounds of the school. So far I have subbed in the Special Education room, for a Spanish teacher, and for a US History/Sociology teacher. I am excited to one day get placed in a math or science classroom, but for now I am enjoying what I’ve been placed in. it’s a great option for me because I can choose when I want to work. Sometimes they’ll call ahead and schedule me for a few days or a week of subbing for the same teacher. Or sometimes they call at 7:45am and say “can you come in today?”. Its great because it fills in the weeks I don’t work off base, but then gives me the flexibility to keep my off base jobs for the sporadic days I work for Hamura City.
I’ve also realized just how many people at this base are in a similar position to me- where they have a degree and had a career before coming to Japan, but just don’t have any options to work here. So far the other substitutes I met (there are only 7 of us, so I still have to meet 3) are a certified elementary teacher, a certified HS teacher, (I guess there were no openings for them at the schools here this year), a college English professor, and a nurse. Add to the list an Aerospace Engineer, and the kids are in very educated hands when their usual teachers are out. It also makes me feel a little better about not being able to work in Engineering here- I know that I’m not the only person struggling with working a temporary job instead of progressing in their career.
I’m excited to work more at the high school. In fact, I even turned down an opportunity to work at another school in Hamura City (even though it pays well) because I am enjoying this job so much. I have had good reviews from the teachers I have subbed for, as well as the many smiling faces of students saying “Oh good/yay/etc, Mrs Monnier is our sub again”. That makes me feel that I am doing this new job well and might even survive working in the world of a High School in the future…
